DFR Faculty Area Medallist Competition

It is always a pleasure to come to the annual qualifying competition for Grand Finals’ Day at Littledown, Bournemouth, as Christine Edwards, Nicky Miles and the team work so hard to ensure a smooth-running, fun day with the high standard of dancing we have all come to expect from these events. 2012 was no exception – the competitors are now, with the benefit of time, more confident with the Set Dances and performing them with style and precision boding well for a hard-fought finals’ event at Guildford later in the year. The level just seems to improve every year and the adjudicators have an extremely tough job.

The Rock ’n’ Roll has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and the pupils’ grasp of the Basic Systems, complimented by well-thought out choreography is at times jaw dropping. The stamina required in this style is immense and to combine this with excellent technique is no easy feat. Well done to all!

Considering this event fell at the beginning of the Easter holidays there was a very positive turn-out and a large number of well-drilled and inspiring teams in a number of different styles. With television shows such as ‘Got To Dance’ and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ bringing formation work to the fore, it is much harder now to produce something impressive and original so a big ‘hats off’ to all teachers that produce teams – it is always a great section whether watching or participating and really inspires a positive feeling of school identity.

As ever, it was a pleasure to observe the Solos and Pairs events. Having seen many of the dancers earlier on in the Set Dance section it is often an eye-opener to watch them again in the events where they are performing free choreography. Some of the Under 8s particularly are just incredible now – the level of work they are performing is way above that expected for their age, the competition just seems to get more and more fierce!

I would like to thank the organisers and adjudicators for a lovely day - five sections all done and dusted by 5.30pm - it certainly made the drive home to Hertfordshire a much easier prospect! We will look forward to next year.